A/N: Alexis knows about Castle being forced into the car. Starting off with Beckett's perspective this chapter (Paragraphs will usually start with he or she. The ones with he are Castle's perspective, and vice versa.). Guys thank you all for your reviews, favorites, and follows, because I have no life outside of school and this makes me feel like I actually have friends! (Kidding, about not having friends.) I'll try to fit in an update every week or so, and try to write everyday. BTW anyone else find it cool that the previous chapter was exactly 1k words?

Twelve Hours

When they get off the plane Alexis and Martha are waiting for both of them, holding a sign that says Kate and Richard Castle, and she can see Castle's smile light up his face. They discussed it one night after training, if she would take his name. She laughed when he asked her, told him she was a one and done girl.

Of course I'll take your name, she said.

Or we could both change our last names to Caskett.

He looks over to her and frowns, the realization that if they don't find the antidote, he won't get to call her Kate Castle, ever. Reminds him of all the things they won't get to do. Marriage. Kids. And he won't get to walk Alexis up the aisle. Grandchildren. On second thought, maybe Alexis not having children is a good thing.

She walks down the first few steps with him before he runs down and hugs Alexis and Martha. A smile unburdens her face, and she walks slightly faster. Both women offer to take her luggage, but she kindly refuses. It's when Castle complains, that she feels guilty. She got him into this mess, he's carrying most of her luggage, and he has a death sentence in about 20 hours.

He doesn't know how to make any of it better. He flew to DC and got himself infected with a toxin incurable without a stolen antidote, she's blaming herself for it, and he just wishes he knew how to make it better. For both of them. Alexis won't take it well, and her coping mechanisms aren't much better than Kate's used to be.

They lead them to the car, mostly asking the couple why Castle had to leave New York and head back to DC when he just came back. She watches him try to come up with an answer, but they get silence, and the promise of a long conversation at home.

The loft, home. She's said it before, even at the precinct. When she told the boys she was leaving, he'd ask where she wanted to stay the night. She usually came to his place, and before she moved to DC she was practically living there. Most of her clothes were lined up next to his, and he had to make room for her shoes to fit in. Before, he wondered how her clothes could fit, only realizing now it was because half of his things were at her place.

She knows why she wanted a house instead of an apartment when she first moved to DC. When Castle had asked her, she told him she wanted something permanent, and she wasn't lying. What she wanted more was a life outside of work. Not just a relationship, not just some drinks with co-workers, but something else to look forward to. And he mentioned he might want it to.

When he steps into the loft he immediately notices Pi's absence. "So... where is Pi?" He asks, hoping not to evict a hostile reply from Alexis.

"He just went shopping, had to get some more ingredients for something we learned to cook a couple weeks ago. He left before we did, so he might not come in for a while."

"Look Alexis, there's something we have to tell you. And you, Martha." He says, leading Kate closer to him. He covers most of her body with his, as if he's trying to shield her from something inevitable, something he knows she'll get and most certainly does not deserve.

"You okay, dad? I talked to Pi, he said he could sleep downstairs."

"It's not about Pi, Alexis. When I went to DC, I might have gotten a little involved in Kate's case, and forced into that car before it crashed. The driver died before the crash, from a chemical put into the car. I was exposed to it, and they're working on getting the antidote know," he says, holding Kate's hand behind his back, waiting for them to realize, to scream and...

"So what's going to happen to you, dad? And why do they have to find an antidote? Did they make the poison? Dad, are you going to be okay?" She sputters, her voice becoming more muffled and angry as she speaks.

"Alexis, I'm going to be fine. Kate's team is working on find-"

"Then why is she here? God, why did you leave in the first place?" She yells, turning her head to Kate. "And why did you let him work the case? I thought your job was classified, remember? You couldn't tell dad anything about your cases, wouldn't even ask for a day off every once in a while!"

"Alexis, please. I'm going to be fine."

A silence descends upon them, Kate feeling as though she needs to clear it. Nothing has been easy these past few weeks, especially her relationship with Alexis. It wasn't near perfect before the job offer, but she had been particularly cold. Before Kate has time to think of something to say Alexis is stomping up the stairs, a strained and angry look on her face that screams leave me alone.

Martha looks disapprovingly at Rick before speaking. "So, I'm assuming your team in DC is working to find an antidote to this... poison?"

"The only one was stolen along with the toxin, but they are working on it. I'm getting hourly updates," Kate says, just hoping and praying, and god anything, so that he won't die.

"Richard, you might want to talk to Alexis before deciding anything else. She's had to deal with enough already," Martha finishes, heading upstairs.

A/N: This was written really late, sorry for mistakes, didn't have time to proof read well. (I was tired :( ) OMFG I'm so mad, my sister watched Revenge at 9 on Sunday so I couldn't watch Castle, and it isn't on at 7 in Canada anymore, so I have to watch it Mondays at 10. :(